US STOCKS-Futures drift higher as risk appetite increases

March 18 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures were higher on
Friday, a day after the Dow Jones industrial average turned
positive for the year, as investors took to riskier assets.

* Global shares rose and the dollar weakened as the U.S.
Federal Reserve's tempered position on interest rate hikes
continued to improve sentiment.

* Crude oil dipped slightly as traders booked profits from a
rally this week, but remained near 2016 highs on hopes that
major oil producers would reach a deal to freeze output.

* Wall Street drifted higher on Thursday, bringing the S&P
500 within shouting distance of a gain for 2016, as energy and
materials stocks rose. The Dow closed up 0.324 percent for 2016.

* With the Fed being cautious over rate hikes, investors
will now keep a close eye on global economic and financial
market conditions to gauge the impact of overseas weakness on
U.S. economy and earnings growth.

* U.S. data on Friday includes a preliminary reading of the
University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index, which is
expected at 92.2 for March, improving from a final reading of
91.7 last month. The report is due at 10 a.m. ET (1400 GMT).

* U.S. stock index futures also got a boost from contracts
set to expire on Friday.
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